Apparatus for activating comminuted material

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for activating carbon or other comminuted material is described. The apparatus includes a plurality of baffles upon which the material to be activated impinges as it falls through the activating apparatus. The bottom surfaces of the baffles are spaced and configured to define passages for the activating gas. Accordingly, the flow of activating gas through the material is in the form of a plurality of congruent paths which appear as branches of the main gas flow. All the material is therefore exposed to gases having substantially equal activating capabilities and a uniform activation is achieved. The combustion gases, which are given off from the fuel used to heat the activator, are utilized as the activating gases and a venturi is used to supply the activating gases to the activating chamber of the apparatus.

United States Patent [1 1 Trepanier 1 [451 Jan. 9, 1973 [54]APPARATUSFOR ACTIVATING COMMINUTED MATERIAL [75] Inventor: Maurice A.Trepanler, Marquette,

Mich.

[73] Assignee: Tioyal Charcoal Company,

Memphis, Tenn.

[22] Filed: Jan. 14, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 106,417

[52] Cl ..34/l69, 34/218 [51] Int. Cl ..F26b 17/12 [58] Field ofSearch....34/64, 65, 167, 168, 169, 170, 34/171, 218, 210, 226, 231;252/445;

[5 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,303,717 12/1942 I Arveson..23/288 G X 2,966,447 [2/1960 Walterl... t ..252/445 X 2,701,920 2/1955Campbell ..34/170 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Italy .ILQIII'...'...202/ 12 l Primary Examiner-Charles J. Myhre AssistantExaminer-James C. Yeung Attorney-Birch, Swindler, McKie & Beckett "1 57A ABSTRACT An apparatus for activating carbon or other comminutedmaterial is described. The apparatus includes a plurality of bafflesupon which the material to be activated impinges as it falls through theactivating apparatus. The bottom surfaces of the baffles are spaced andconfigured to define passages for the activating gas. Accordingly,the'flow of activating gas through the material is in the form of aplurality of congruent paths which appear as branches of the main gasflow.

All the material is therefore exposed to gases having substantiallyequal activating capabilities and a uniform activation is achieved. Thecombustion gases, which aregiven off from the fuel used to heat theactivator, are utilized as the activating gases and a venturi is used tosupply the activating gases to the activating chamber of the apparatus.

. 10 Claim, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 9 I975 SHEET 1 0F 5 FIG. I

"M l w A MAURICE TREPANIER 67rd, I f

ATTORNEXS PATENTEBJAN 9 1913 SHEET 3 [1F 5 PATENTED JAN 9 I975 SHEET 50F 5 ACTIVATING COMIVIINUTED MATERIAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Nearlyall processes for activating carbon can be classified into one of threemain classifications. The first is activation by chemical meansutilizing phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, zinc chloride and similaragents. The chemical is usually a strong dehydrating agent, and isnormally added to organic material such as wood, peat, etc., and themixture is then carbonized. The second category is that of activation bythe use of air in a temperature range of 4505 50 Centigrade. The thirdcategory is that of activating by use of steam, carbon dioxide orcombustion gases in the temperature range of 800-l ,000 Centigrade. Theinstant invention falls in the third of these categories.

Various types of apparatus are presently available for activatingcharcoal and similar materials by use of steam, carbon dioxideorcombustion gases. Ordinarily, in the existing types of apparatus, thematerial to be activated is placed in an activating chamber in a mannerwhich causes the carbon or charcoal to form what appears to be a column.A source of activating gases, which usually is an outside source, isused to supply the activating gases which filter through the column ofcarbon and thereby cause activation of the charcoal. After passingthrough the carbon, the activating gases are expelled 'into an exhaustchamber or a device which neutralizes them to eliminate their toxiccharacteristics.

All of these systems have some utility and have met with limitedcommercial success. However, they have certain inherent disadvantages.Perhaps the most im- APPARATUS FOR portant disadvantage is the fact thatthe activating gases pass through the entire column, or a major portionthereof, of the material being activated. As a contially greater thanthey are after the gas has passed partially through the material.Accordingly, the first material subjected to the gas is activated to ahigher extent than the material which is located further down streamfrom the gas entrance. In some instances the initial material iscompletely disintegrated, or turned to ash, while that further along theflow of gas is only partially activated.

Another difficulty of the presently existing apparatus stems from thefact that the temperature control of the activating gases and thematerial being activated is extremely difficult because of the serialflow of gas through the material. Attempts to improve the control of theequipment have resulted in complex and complicated structures which arelarge in size and high in cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The instant invention overcomes thesedisadvantages in that the activating gases are provided in a steadystream which is injected into the activating apparatus in a singlestream which is then divided into several short congruent, or parallel,streams. The apparatus includes an activating chamber having alongitudinal axis and a gas inlet passage which extends throughthechamber parallel to the longitudinal axis. A source of activating gassupplies gas to one end of the gas inlet passage. A

plurality of bafiles are disposed in the chamber and define surfaceswhich are disposed along said inlet passage angularly with respect tothe axis of the chamber. The baffles are spaced apart to form branchpassages for the activating gas, which branch passages communicate withthe inlet passage. As the material to be activated passes through thechamber it is deflected by the baffles and thereby intermixes.

Activating gas passes along the inlet passage and a portion thereof isdiverted into each of the branch passages by the baffles while theremaining gas continues through the inlet passage to the succeedingbranch passages. The activating gas therefore passes through thematerial in the respective branch passages and thereby subjects thematerial to gases having substantially equal activating capability. Agas outlet communicates with the branch passages to exhaust the gas fromthe activating chamber. r

The inventive structure results in more output per unit volume as aresult of the material being kept under favorable activating conditionsduring most of the time that it is in the activator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view partly insection and with the heating chamber and material inlet removed, of anembodiment utilizing dihedral type baffles.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1,including a combustion chamber and a venturi.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of theinvention utilizing semi-pyramidal baffles.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 4a and 4b are respectively a top view and an end view of one ofthe baffles used in the embodiment of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a third preferredembodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 6 takenperpendicular to FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 6showing the use of parallel material inlets and parallel exhaustoutlets.

FIG. 10 is a schematical representation of a modified form of theembodiment of FIG. 6 useful in understanding the construction andoperation thereof and showing an alternateventuri design and locationand also an alternate type of gas distributor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In FIG. 2 the inventive charcoalactivator 10 includes a gas inlet 11 and a material feed inlet '12.Thematerial to be-activated is fed into the activation chamber 13through the material feed 12. The activating gases enter the activatingchamber 13 through the gas inlet 11.

Extending across the entire width of the activation chamber 13 are aplurality of baffles 14, which are equally spaced along the longitudinalvertical axis of the activation chamber. The cross-sectional appearanceof the baffles 14 is that of an, inverted V. A second series ofsimilarly configured baffles is interposed between baffles 14.' The twoseries of baffles l4 and 15 are disposed at right angles with respect toone another. Accordingly, baffles 14 and 15 respectively extendcompletely along two transverse axes of the activation chamber 13. Withthe exception of the uppermost baffle, each of the baffles 14 and 15 isprovided with an aperture 16in the approximate center thereof. Theseapertures are dimensioned such that a portion of the gas is divertedalong the bottom surface of the baffle and a portion passes directlythrough the aperture to the next baffle. The configuration of theapertures 16 can be triangular as shown, circular, or any otherconvenient configuration. Because baffles l4 and 15 are alternatelydisposed at right angles, material entering activation-chamber 13through inlet 12 contacts the top surfaces of the baffles in sequentialorder. The material therefore follows an irregular path through thechamber'13 as the direction of travel is changed each time contact ismade with a different baffle. This results in a thorough and uniformmixing of the material which is to be activated.

Arranged around the fourcorners of the activation chamber 13 is aplurality of exhaust gas collecting ducts 17, as shown'in FIGS. 1 and 2.Collecting ducts l7 communicate with activation chamber 13 by means ofvents 32, which are the spaces existing between the individual plates ofa plurality of louvers 18. The louvers 18 are arranged at approximately45 angles across the four corners of the activation chamber and slopedownwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the activator so that gasespassing along the bottom surfaces of the baffles 14 and 15 ultimatelypass into collection ducts 17 through the vents 32. The gases cannotpass directly to the vents 32 because of the location of the vents withrespect to the baffles 14 and 15. The V shaped baffles l4 and 15 arebutted against the side walls of the activation chamber 13. Accordinglythe baffles fill up with the activating gases and then the gases seeparound the edges of the baffles through the material to be activatedinto the vents 32. In this manner the gases flow through the activatorin a plurality of branches from the main flow path. The main stream ofgases will ultimately impinge upon the apertureless uppermost baffle andthen seep around the bottom edges of the baffle and then be expelledthrough vents 32.

Each of the exhaust gas collecting ducts l7 communicates with a mainexhaust duct 19 which serves as an input to the combustion chamber 20through the venturi 22. Exhaust duct 19 can be blocked off from venturi22 by means of damper 33. A gas vent 25 is provided for expelling theactivating gases.

The exhaust gases from the activating chamber 13 are directed from themain duct 19 into the combustion chamber 20 by way of the venturi 22.Air is injected into the venturi through an inlet 24. Fuel gas necessaryfor initial start up of the chamber 20 can be injected into the venturithrough the fuel inlet 23. The venturi is useful in mixing the air andthe exhaust or fuel gas to insure complete burning. After mixing withair in the venturi22, the exhaust or fuel gas is burned in thecombustion chamber 20, which is filled with refractory granules 21. Avent 26 is provided to exhaust the gases from the combustion chamberwhen necessary. The vent 26 is provided with a plug 27. The combustiongases are conducted by way of conduit 28 from the combustion chamber 20to the gas inlet 11 and then into the activation chamber 13 where theyserve as the activating gases. The flow of combustion gases from thecombustion chamber-20 to the conduit 28 can be blocked off by means ofdamper 34.

Immediately upon entering the activating chamber 13 most of theactivating gases impinge upon the deflector 29, and are then directedupwardly toward the baffles 14 and 15. A portion of the gases impingesupon the bottom of the first baffle 14 and therefore travels along thebafile and through the material to be activated until exhausted bycollecting ducts 17 through vents 32.

Another portion of the 1 gases passes upwardly through the combustionchamber by way of aperture 16. A portion of these gases impinges uponthe second baffle which is the first baffle '15, and ultimately passesout through the vents 32. The upward motion and splitting effect of theactivating gases continues through the chamber 13 until the last of thegases impinges upon the last baffle 15 which is closed. These gases arethen directed downwardly around the baffle and out through the vents 32into the collecting ducts 17. Because of the configuration of thebaffles and the vents 32, the combustion gases travel a series ofparallel, or congruent, branch passages which are substantially uniformin length. The material under activation is located in the branchpassages and therefore the material being activated in each passage issubjected to gases which are substantially uniform in their activatingcapability. The activated product is therefore more uniform than inexisting activating apparatus.

The activated material is discharged through a product dischargeaperture 30. Discharge can be aided by use of a continuously runningscrew conveyor or a movable plate in well known manner. Steam, or someother purging gas can be applied to the activated product by means ofinlet 31.

The type of discharge mechanism used is partially dependent upon themanner of operating the activating apparatus. A continuous activatingmethod preferably is used. In this method material is continuously fedinto inlet 12 and continuously. removed form outlet 30. The material isthen activated as it passes through the activation chamber. Acontinuously running screw could be used as the discharge mechanism forthis type of operation.

In an alternate but less desirable mode of operation, which is a batchoperation, the chamber may be filled with material and gases enter thechamber while the material is static. After a predetermined period oftime the material is sufficiently activated and is removed from thechamber. A valve plate could be used as the discharge mechanism for thisoperation. In this embodiment and in all succeeding embodimentshereinafter described the collecting ducts or outlet passages may openat the lower end into the product discharge to prevent the passages frombecoming filled by entrained material.

A second preferred embodiment of the invention, the activator 40, isshown in FIGS. 3-5. An understanding of this embodiment is more readilyobtained by first viewing FIGS. 4a and 4b which show the bafiles 44.FIG. 4a shows the baffle 44 as it appears when viewed along a line whichis perpendicular to the gas inlet 41 shown in FIG. 3. The upper surface46, that is the surface upon which the material to be activatedimpinges, is triangularly shaped and extends from an apes 53 along theupper edge of the two side surfaces 47, which slope angularly away fromthe upper surface 46 to the corners 54. The side edges 49 of thesurfaces 47 and the upper edge 48 of surface 46 lie in the same plane. Arow of baffles 44 is made by connecting the sides 49 of several of thebaffles, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. The baffles 44 therefore aresemi-pyramidal in configuration.

FIG. 4b is a view taken along a line parallel to the plane defined bythe edges 48 and 49 and viewed from the bottom of the baffles. Thesloped side surfaces 47 form triangular surfaces which become narrowertoward the upward edge 48. Consequently, material to be activatedcontacts the surfaces 46 and 47 and slides downwardly off of one baffletoward a lower baffle. Also the activating gases, as they are divertedfrom the mainstream, pass the under surfaces of the baffles and throughthe material being activated until the gases impinge upon the top of thenext succeeding baffle from where they are directed upwardly into theexhaust passage 42. 7

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the inventive activator 40 includes anactivating gas inlet passage 41 and two parallel activating gas outletpassages '42. Arranged between the inlet passage 41 and the outletpassages 42 are two material feed passages 43, through which thematerial to be activated is introduced into the activator 40. Thematerial inlet passages 43 are formed from a plurality of baffles 44 andthey extend transversely across the entire width. of the activator 40.The individual baffles 44 are connected to form rows and a row extendsacross the width of the activator 40. In the example illustrated in FIG.3 a single row contains three baffles; this is a design choice as anynumber can be used. The rows of baffles 44 are arranged in four columns,two of which have their uppermost portions respectively contiguous withthe gas outlet passages 42 and the other two of which have theiruppermost portions respectively contiguous with the two sides of gasinlet passage 41. The horizontal rows of baffles 44 are arranged suchthat the baffles in one row are staggered relative to the correspondingbaffles in the adjacent row as shown in FIG. 5. The rows of baffleswithin a column are equally spaced along the longitudinal axis of theactivator 40. The material inlet passages 43 are each formed from twocolumns of baffle rows. The vertical spacing of the rows of baffleswithin the two columns is the same. However, the two vertical columnsare arranged such that the baffles within one column are staggeredrelative to the baffles in the adjacent columns as best seen in FIG. 4.This results in a staggering of the baffles within the two columns, andresults in the descending material being deflected in a zig-zagpathbetween the baffles in the adjoining columns.

Thus, although each row of baffles contains the same viewing FIGS. 4 and5, and considering two rows 50 and 51 of baffles which form the top ofthe right hand tom edge of each baffle includes an apex 53 in the l acenter of the top surface 46, FIGS. 4a and 4b are helpful in visualizingthis configuration.

The baffles within row 51 are arranged so that the apexes 5301 this roware directly opposite the seams 52 of row 50. This results in a space 54(FIG. 5) between the two rows of baffles which extends across the widthof the activator 40 and which is sawtooth in configuration. For thisreason as the material to be activated enters the activating chamberformed by the baffles 44, the material is deflected from one baffle tothe other in its downward journey through the activating chamber. Thiscauses the material to move in a zig-zag fashion down through theactivating chamber. A

The above described arrangement of baffles also results in a series ofcongruent, or. parallel, branch gas passages, indicated by the arrows 45in FIG. 4, which communicate between the inlet passage 41 and the outletpassage 42. For this reason as the gases entering the inlet passage 41pass downwardly through the main passage 41, portions of the gases arediverted transversely through the smaller branch passages 45 to theexhaust passage 42. The material within the branch passages 45 isactivated at this time.

The passages 45 are identical in configuration and dimension because ofthe uniform spacing of the rows of baffles 44 along the longitudinalaxis of the activating chamber 40, and because the individual baffles 44are identical. For this reason the activating capability of the gases asthey pass through the material to be activated is substantially uniformand the activation throughout the activating apparatus is uniform andconsistent.

Although it is not shown in FIG. 4, a gas distribution plate can beinserted into the gas inlet passage 41 to cause more equal flow ofactivating gases into the branch passages 45. A detailed description ofthe distribution plates is given with respect to the embodiment shown inFIGS. 6 and 7 hereinafter.

It should also be noted that the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 includesfour columns of baffles and two gas outlet passages 42. The inventionworks equally well with a single gas outlet passage and two columns ofbaffles'. This can best be visualized by eliminating everything to theright of the gas passage 41 in the embodiment shown in FIG 4 and placinga solid wall on the right side of such passage.

It should also be noted that the activator shown in FIGS. 3 to 5includes a combustion chamber, a venturi and associated conduits in themanner shown with respect to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

A third embodiment of the invention, which is preferred over thepreceeding embodiments, is shown in FIGS. 6 to 10.

The apparatus 60 includes material feed passage 61,

which contains the material to be activated 62. The material feedpassage 61 extends between the side walls 63 of the activating apparatus60, as best seen in FIG. 8.

The activating gases enter into the top of a gas inlet passage 64. Theactivating gases are then passed as shown by the arrows in FIG. 7through a series of congruent branch gas passages 65 through thematerial feed passage 61, and are then exhausted by way of the exhaustpassage 66. The material feed passage forms an activating chamber.

The congruent branch passages 65 are formed by two columns of bafflesrespectively identified as 67 and 68. The individual columns of bafflesare arranged such that the vertical axis of each column is parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the activating apparatus 60. The individualbaffles within a column are equally spaced along the longitudinal axisof the activating chamber 61 and slope upwardly away from thelongitudinal axis thereof. However, the two columns of baffles areseparated by a space which defines the material feed passage 61 which issymmetrically disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of theactivating chamber 61.

A plurality of a first type of gas distribution plates 71 are arrangedin the gas inlet and outlet passages 64 and 66. The purpose of theseplates is to cause uniform distribution of the gases to the branchpassages 65. The configuration of these distribution plates is bestunderstood with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 and will be described indetail hereinafter. A second type of gas distribution plate, which ispreferred over the first type, will also be hereinafter described withreference to A product discharge mechanism 70 is disposed at the bottomof the activating chamber 61. This is effective to remove the activatedmaterial from an activating chamber and is similar to those describedwith respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

Additional details of the baffles 67 and 68 can be seen by viewing FlG.8. As seen in this figure, the baffles 67 slope in one direction, whilethe baffles 68 slope in the other direction. That is, baffles 68 slopeupwardly away from the left wall 63 of the combustion chamber as shownin FIG. 8, while the baffles 67 slope downwardly from the left wall 63of the combustion chamber. The individual baffles 67 and 68 within thetwo columns of baffles slope in two directions. All the baffles 67 and68 slope downwardly away from the side wall 74, to which they are themost proximate, toward the center plane of the activation chamber.

The material to be activated is fed into the activation chamber 61 byuse of two feed inlet conduits 72 and 73.

As the material is inserted into the conduits 72 and .73, it contactsthe top surfaces of the baffles 67 and 68.

Because of the slope of the baffles with respect to the side walls 63,of the chamber, the material slides downwardly along the baffles towardthe side walls and simultaneously slides toward the center-of theactivation apparatus. This causes substantial .intermixing of thematerial as it travels downwardly through the activating chamber6l. Auniform mixture of the substance to be activated is therefore realizedthroughout the entire activation apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 6, the gas distribution plates 71 are in the form ofisosceles triangles having an altitude which greatly exceeds the widthof the base. The apex of each triangle is shown as flattened; however,this is an optional feature.

The triangular shaped distribution plates .71 are equally spaced alongthe baffles 67 and 68. leaving triangular spaces between the plates.Accordingly, as the activating gases enter the gas conduit 64, they passalong the distribution plate 71 and through the spaces between theplates. The gas distribution plates '71 therefore cause the gases to beequally distributed across the baffles 67 and therefore a uniform flowof gas through the branch passages 65 occurs. Thisresults in asubstantially uniform activation of the material within the activationchamber 61. i

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 contains only one material passage61 and only one gas outlet 66 and gas inlet 64. The apparatus can bemodified to include two material passages and two gas outlet passages 66in a manner similar to the embodiment of FIG. 9 which illustrated anactivator utilizing two material passages. Two additional columns ofbaffles 67' and 68' which are identical to the first two columns, are

added to the activator. One of the additional columns communicates withthe gas inlet passage 64 and the other communicates with an additionalgas outlet passage 66'. Gas distribution plates 71 are arranged alongboth sides of both material feed passages. As gas enters gas inletpassage '64 a portion branches off in both directions through the twomaterial feed passages 61 and 61"formed by baffles 67-68 and 67--68'.The diverted gases pass through the material 62 and exhaust through gasoutlet passages 66 and 66.

The operation of the inventive charcoal activator will now be described.Referring to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the activating chamber 13is filled with feed material through the inlet 12. Inlet l2 and outlet30 are I then closed, as are also dampers 33 and 34. The plug 27 isremoved from outlet 26. Steam or purge gas is introduced at 31 to keep aslight pressure on dampers 33 and 34 and thus to prevent seepage ofcombustible fuel gas into the activating chamber. An outside source ofcombustible gas is introduced slowly at 23 and ignited at outlet 26. Airis then added through air inlet 24 to cause combustion in the combustionchamber 20. The rate of temperature increase inside the combustionchamber 20 can easily be controlled by adjusting the air and fuel gas.When the temperature in the combustion chamber has reached the desiredactivating temperature, damper 34 and exhaust vent 25 are opened. Thesteam or purge gas is turned off at 31 and the plug 27 is inserted invent 26-causing the combustion gases from combustion chamber 20 to passthrough conduit 28 and inlet 11 .into the activating chamber 13. Theactivating gases then pass through the material to be activated which isin the branch passages formed by baffles l4 and 15 and louvers l8, andout through exhaust vents 32 into the exhaust ducts 17 and thencethrough exhaust duct 19 to the exhaust vent 25. If desired, hot exhaustgases from exhaust vent can be used to preheat air coming in-through 24.After the temperature in activating chamber 13 reaches the desiredvactivating temperature the supply of fuel gas through 23 may begradually diminished and damper 33 may be gradually opened to allow someof the gases leaving the activating chamber to be aspirated into theventuri tube and burned in the combustion chamber. These gases have beenfound to have sufficient heating value to sustain the desiredtemperature in the activator.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is designed to be started up witha portable combustion chamber which can be removed once the activatingchamber is in operation. Initially, damper 82 is open and damper 83 isclosed. Hot gases from the portable combustion chamber are introducedthrough inlet 84 and pass through the venturi 78 and the inlet passage64 to the branch passages 65 which are formed by baffles 67 and 68.After passing through the material in the branch passages 65, theactivating gases are transmitted by way of passages 66 and 79 to theexhaust outlet 75. When the temperature inside the activating chamber 61reaches the desired activating temperature, damper 82 may be graduallyclosed and damper 83 may be gradually opened so that some of the exhaustgasses from the activating chamber are aspirated into venturi 78 by theflow of air through inlet 81 where they are burned. Altemately, steam at150 to 200 pounds of pressure can be used to aspirate the combustiblegases into the venturi. The volume of steam needed is considerably lessthan the volume-of air. If steam is used,

air must be added at the venturi discharge to burn the combustiblegases. The resulting combustion gases pass into the activating chamberwhere they serve as activating gases. An alternate method of starting upthe activator, which is somewhat faster and is therefore preferred, isto charge the activator with a portion of red hot charcoal. Unheatedcharcoal is then used to finish filling the activating chamber. Air isadded gradually through venturi inlet 81 to prevent the tem- Thisdistribution plate slopes inwardly away from sidev wall 74 so that atthe approximate longitudinal center of the activating chamber 61, theplate is contiguous to the column of baffles 67. Another gasdistribution plate 77 is arranged below the upper distribution plate 76and the uppermost point of this plate is also located approximatelymid-way between the baffles 67 and side wall 74. Plate 77 also slopesinwardly away from side wall 74 so that the bottom iscontiguous to thelowest baffle 67. Both the plates76 and 77 extend the entire distancebetween the side walls 63 of the activating apparatus. A small angularlyarranged plate 78 extends across the top of the second distributionplate 77. This plate is used to prevent gas from entering behindtheplate 77. Though not'shown in the drawings, straightening vanes may beattached to the distributor plates to prevent the activating gases frombeing forced to one side due to the slope of the baffles.

The activating gases are injected into the top of the gas inlet 64 andbecause of the central location of plate 76 approximately half of thegases pass on each side of the plate. The gases which pass to the right,as illustrated in FIG. 8 of the distribution plate 76, pass through theupper half of the column of congruent branch passages 65 which containthe material being the left of the plate 76, pass downwardly along theplate until they impinge upon the right surface of the second plate 77.These gases then pass through the lower half of the column of congruentbranch passage and also are exited by way of the outlet passage 66.

FIG. 10 also shows an alternate configuration for the venturi 78' andthe air inlet 81'. The venturi is located in passage 80' and the airinlet 81' protrudes through the side wall of passage 79'. A second airinlet 86 and a deflector 87 are provided to allow air to be added at theventuri discharge so that the percentage of oxygen in the activatinggases can be set at any desired level. Also shown in FIG. l0 and labeledwith the numerals 91 through 94 are the approximate locations of fourthermocouples used to measure the activator temperature duringtest runsto be hereinafter explained.

A working model of the inventive device as shown in FIG. 10 wasconstructed and test runs utilizing granulated charcoal were conducted.Data from three of the test runs is summarized in the following table.

Activator Summary of Test Runs thermocouple 94 Data based on 4% H 0 wctbasis Average temperature in.F during test run Although the yields fromthe test runs compare favorably with the yields obtained from aHerreshofftype activator, even better yields could be expected if thepercentage of oxygen in the activatinggases were held below about 2percent. Thehigh oxygen content of the activating gases inthe test runswas necessary to maintain a uniform temperature throughout the pilotactivator, but uniform temperature could readily be achieved by otherconventional means such as better insulation.

It is now evident that the instant invention provides a mechanism foruniformly activating a material, such as carbon or charcoal, by theprovision of a plurality of identically configured and dimensionedcongruent branch passages for the activating gas rather than a singleseries path as normally exists in the prior art apparatus: The uniquestructure by which the congruent branch passages are created thereforeresults in a more uniform activation than can be realized with the priorart devices.

There has been illustrated and described what is considered to be apreferred embodiment of the invention. It will be understood thatvarious modifications may be made by persons skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, which is defined by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for activating comminuted material comprising:

an activating chamber having a longitudinal axis and an inlet passageextending through said chamber in the direction of said axis,

means for supplying activating gas to one end of said inlet passage;

means for depositing comminuted material into said chamber;

a plurality of baffles disposed in said chamber below said depositingmeans, said baffles defining surfaces which are disposed along saidinlet passage angularly with respect to said axis and spaced apart toform branch passages for said activating gas having inlets communicatingwith said inlet passage, so that said material impinges upon saidbaffles during passage through said chamber and thereby intermixes andpasses through said branch passages, and said gas passes along saidinlet passage with a portion of said gas being diverted into each ofsaid branch passages by said baffles and the remaining gas continuingthrough i said inlet passage to the succeeding branch passage, saiddiverted gas passing through said material in said respective branchpassages thereby subjecting said material to activating gases havingsubstantially equal activating capability;

and outlet means communicating with said branch passages for exhaustingsaid gas from said activating chamber,

said baffles including a first column of spaced parallel baffles slopingdownwardly from a first side wall of said chamber toa second side wallof said chamber, and a second column of spaced parallel baffles slopingdownwardly from said second side wall to said first side wall, saidfirst and second columns of baffles being transversely spaced to form amaterial passage between said columns, said baffles in both of saidcolumns sloping downwardly toward said material passage.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inlet passage lies on one sideof saidvcolumns and extends completely between said first and secondwalls and completely along the longitudinal length of said chamber, andsaid outlet means lies on the other side of means.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further including gas tribution meansarranged in said inlet and said outlet passages to facilitate uniformsupply of gas to said branch passages.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said inlet passage has gasdistribution means contained therein, said gas distribution meanscomprising a first upper distribution plate with its upper end locatedapproximate ly midway between the bafflesand the side walls and itslower end located contiguous to the column of baffles at the approximatelongitudinal center of the activating chamber and a second lowerdistribution plate arrangement below the upper distribution plate, theuppermost point of said upper distribution plate being locatedapproximately midway between the baffles and the side wall and thebottom of said upper distribution plate contiguous to the lowest baffle.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said upper and lower distributionplates extend the entire distance between the side walls of theactivating chamber and said lower distribution plate has means attachedthereto toprevent gas from entering the space between said lower plateand the side wall.

1. Apparatus for activating comminuted material comprising: anactivating chamber having a longitudinal axis and an inlet passageextending through said chamber in the direction of said axis, means forsupplying activating gas to one end of said inlet passage; means fordepositing comminuted material into said chamber; a plurality of bafflesdisposed in said chamber below said depositing means, said bafflesdefining surfaces which are disposed along said inlet passage angularlywith respect to said axis and spaced apart to form branch passages forsaid activating gas having inlets communicating with said inlet passage,so that said material impinges upon said baffles during passage throughsaid chamber and thereby intermixes and passes through said branchpassages, and said gas passes along said inlet passage with a portion ofsaid gas being diverted into each of said branch passages by saidbaffles and the remaining gas continuing through said inlet passage tothe succeeding branch passage, said diverted gas passing through saidmaterial in said respective branch passages thereby subjecting saidmaterial to activating gasEs having substantially equal activatingcapability; and outlet means communicating with said branch passages forexhausting said gas from said activating chamber, said baffles includinga first column of spaced parallel baffles sloping downwardly from afirst side wall of said chamber to a second side wall of said chamber,and a second column of spaced parallel baffles sloping downwardly fromsaid second side wall to said first side wall, said first and secondcolumns of baffles being transversely spaced to form a material passagebetween said columns, said baffles in both of said columns slopingdownwardly toward said material passage.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1wherein said inlet passage lies on one side of said columns and extendscompletely between said first and second walls and completely along thelongitudinal length of said chamber, and said outlet means lies on theother side of said columns and extends parallel to and coextensive withsaid inlet passage.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 further including athird column of baffles similar to said first column and a furthercolumn of baffles similar to said second column and spaced from saidthird column, said third and fourth columns being spaced from said firstand second columns to define said inlet passage therebetween, and asecond gas outlet means communicating with said fourth column identicalto and spaced on the opposite side of said inlet passage from said firstnamed outlet means.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 further including gasdistribution means arranged in said inlet and said outlet passages tofacilitate uniform supply of gas to said branch passages.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 2 wherein said inlet passage has gas distributionmeans contained therein, said gas distribution means comprising a firstupper distribution plate with its upper end located approximately midwaybetween the baffles and the side walls and its lower end locatedcontiguous to the column of baffles at the approximate longitudinalcenter of the activating chamber and a second lower distribution platearrangement below the upper distribution plate, the uppermost point ofsaid upper distribution plate being located approximately midway betweenthe baffles and the side wall and the bottom of said upper distributionplate contiguous to the lowest baffle.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5wherein said upper and lower distribution plates extend the entiredistance between the side walls of the activating chamber and said lowerdistribution plate has means attached thereto to prevent gas fromentering the space between said lower plate and the side wall.